Lord Henfield had accosted a Yeoman Warder, who, recognising quality, not only offered directions to the Jewel House, but now said that he would be only too happy to appraise ‘your Honour’ of various places of note about the Tower, and some of the historical incidents. Lord Henfield had little doubt that this would be in the expectation of largesse at the conclusion of his tour, but thought it might enliven the proceedings more than Henrietta’s guidebook, which had so far furnished them with the length of the ditch about the Tower, being some 3,156 feet, and the calibre of the sixty-one guns they would find facing over the river. Henrietta had read out these facts without huge enthusiasm. The Yeoman Warder, in his archaic garb and with his brightly ribboned hat, was of interest in himself. He advocated visiting about the precincts and then the Jewel House, before returning to see the wild beasts. Since they were housed in proximity to the west entrance, he might lose ‘his visitors’ if he had to wait for them to finish staring at the animals. Lord Henfield, after a few minutes of the man’s story-telling, recognised the fact that it was a well-rehearsed performance. It did, however, enthral the ladies especially, and he obviously delighted in making them shudder and gasp at his revelations of murdered princes, and tragic maidens. At the Tower Green he drew a vivid picture of gruesome beheadings, and Lord Martley, seeing Miss Felbridge’s pallor, suggested they move on without delay. The chapel was visited, but the ladies were firm in having no interest in seeing room after room of ancient weaponry, and every desire for viewing the Crown Jewels. At the Jewel House the warder left them, with a crown of his own in his pocket.

After the warm sunshine outside, the Jewel House was dark and cool. The guidebook had already warned them that entry to the ‘jewel-office’ would cost one shilling per person in a party, but all agreed that seeing the magnificent pieces in close view was worth it. The warder reminded them that there was to be ‘no a-touching of the objects by reaching little lady-hands through the bars’, but did not offer a commentary. In this instance, Henrietta’s guide was much more useful, despite a predilection for dimensions and weights.

Lady Elstead remarked that the crowns were many of them desperately heavy-looking, such as would give one a frightful headache and pain in the neck if worn for long, but the girls were round-eyed at the remarkable size and quality of the gemstones.

‘You know, I have never seen these before,’ whispered Lord Martley to Lord Henfield, as they stood a little behind the ladies. ‘I had not thought of visiting, and only offered because Miss Gaydon and Miss Felbridge were so keen upon the idea, but it is very impressive.’